Supporting Staff to Support Young People

As part of an annual rolling programme, ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is being offered to Scottish Borders Council Education staff. This training has been introduced following a Child Protection Learning Review and should be prioritised for attendance.

The programme aims to ensure that all pastoral staff, members of secondary school senior management teams and central education staff are appropriately trained to support children and young people who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide.

📅 19 & 20 May 2027
🕘 8:50am – 5:00pm (both days)

This two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid is being partially funded by the NHS Health Improvement Team.

What will participants learn?

An ASIST-trained caregiver will be better able to:

✅ Identify people who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide and offer support
✅ Seek a shared understanding of the reasons behind suicidal thoughts
✅ Apply a recognised suicide intervention model
✅ Review current risk and develop a plan to increase safety from suicidal behaviour
✅ Link individuals with appropriate community resources and support services

Important Information

🎓 ASIST certification is valid for three years, after which refresher training is required.

🏫 Each school has been allocated two places on this programme, with other places available first come first serve.

📧 To secure places, please email CLPL@scotborders.gov.uk with the names of attendees from your school as soon as possible.

🔗 Attendees will receive a registration link directly from the NHS approximately 12 weeks prior to the programme to complete their sign-up.

➕ If your school would like additional places, please contact the CLPL Team who will explore whether further spaces can be made available.

Why Attend?

ASIST is internationally recognised training that equips staff with practical skills and confidence to intervene safely and effectively when someone may be at risk of suicide. By developing a shared understanding and approach across our schools and services, we can strengthen the support available to children and young people when they need it most. 💙

26 & 27 November | 9:00am – 4:30pm
📍 Business Suite, Council Headquarters

Please note: these dates differ from those originally advertised.

Are you interested in supporting children and young people as they navigate significant change and loss? Become a Seasons for Growth Companion through this two-day training programme.

What is Seasons for Growth?

Seasons for Growth is an evidence-informed programme designed to strengthen the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people aged 6-18 who are experiencing the effects of change and loss.

Participants are supported to:

✅ Explore the impact of change and loss on everyday life
✅ Understand that grief and change affect everyone differently
✅ Learn positive ways to respond to change and build resilience

Who is it for?

The programme supports children and young people experiencing a range of life changes, including:

🍃 Loss of someone or something important
🏠 Moving home or changing school
👨‍👩‍👧 Family separation or changes in family circumstances
🤝 Changes in friendships and relationships
💙 The impact of illness
💼 Changes in family work-life circumstances

Seasons for Growth focuses on the impact of the change, rather than the event itself, recognising that everyone’s experience is unique.

👉 Please book via Business World.

🌱 Seasons for Growth Reconnector Session (For Previously Trained Companions)

Additional Support Needs
📅 Thursday 12 November
🕓 4:00pm – 5:00pm
💻 Seasons for Growth Glow Teams Channel

This session is for companions who have previously completed Seasons for Growth training and would like to reconnect with the programme, refresh their practice and explore the theme of Additional Support Needs.

Important Information

📧 If you have previously attended Seasons for Growth training but do not have access to the Glow Teams channel, please contact CLPL@scotborders.gov.uk using your Glow email address and you will be added.

📦 All previously trained companions should have received communication directly from MacKillop outlining how to purchase materials for running Seasons for Growth groups. If you have not received this information, the guidance has also been shared within the Glow Teams channel.

🍂 Support Through Change, Growth Through Understanding

Whether you’re new to Seasons for Growth or looking to reconnect with your existing training, these opportunities will help strengthen your ability to support children and young people experiencing change and loss.

These sessions are designed for education staff who have previously attended a Signalong Introduction Workshop and would like additional opportunities to practise, revisit and build confidence in using signs within their daily work.

Running weekly on Thursday afternoons from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, the sessions will begin after the October break and continue through to December. Each session will focus on practising core vocabulary introduced during the introductory workshops, alongside a selection of seasonal and topic-specific signs that can be applied immediately within learning and teaching contexts.

The aim is to support colleagues to:

• Consolidate and retain core Signalong vocabulary
• Increase confidence in using signs in everyday interactions
• Extend their signing repertoire through relevant seasonal themes
• Strengthen inclusive communication approaches within their settings

Autumn Refresher Programme

🎃 29 October – Halloween Signs (joining link)

🎆 5 November – Fireworks Signs (joining link)

❄️ 12 November – Winter Signs (joining link)

🏠 19 November – Daily Routine Signs (joining link)

🎄 3 December – Christmas Signs (joining link)

🎁 10 December – Christmas Holiday Signs (joining link)

Please note that there will be no session on 26 November due to a prior commitment.

Who Can Attend?

These refresher sessions are intended for colleagues who are already using Signalong and have attended an introductory workshop.

Staff who have not yet completed a Signalong Introduction Workshop are encouraged to do so before attending the refresher sessions. Information will follow shortly on a new Signalong Introduction workshop.

Joining the Sessions

Bookings can be made through Business World.

We hope these sessions will provide a supportive and informal opportunity to practise signing skills regularly, helping colleagues to build confidence and continue developing inclusive communication strategies across their settings.

A huge thank you to Lucy Benjamin for piloting this initiative, and we look forward to seeing many colleagues join the sessions throughout the term.

Thanks to funding secured from The Society for the Education of the Deaf, a new fees scholarship is now available for the Postgraduate Diploma in Deaf Education, the qualification required to become a Teacher of Deaf Children and Young People (ToD).

The first scholarship will support a January intake, with a further scholarship expected to be available each September thereafter. This generous funding represents a significant opportunity for fully registered teachers who are passionate about supporting deaf learners and developing specialist knowledge and skills in this important area.

The course is a highly rewarding professional learning opportunity. However, it is important to recognise that balancing postgraduate study alongside full-time teaching commitments can be challenging, particularly given the practical experience requirements involved over the two-year programme. Additional voluntary experience working alongside services for deaf children is encouraged where possible, although opportunities need to remain manageable and sustainable for both participants and supervising staff.

As this is the first scholarship being offered, there may be relatively few applications. Colleagues are therefore encouraged to share this opportunity widely with GTCS fully registered teachers across Scotland who may be interested in pursuing a career in deaf education.

Further information about the scholarship can be found here:

🔗 The Society for the Education of the Deaf Scholarship
https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/other-funding/society-for-education-of-the-deaf

Please help spread the word and support the next generation of Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People.